Climate Negotiations

The annual Conference of Parties (COP) first kicked off in Berlin, Germany in 1995. COP21 aims, for the first time, to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.

Between November 30 and December 7, around 50,000 participants, including 25,000 official delegates from government, intergovernmental organizations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society from over 190 countries, are expected to attend the Paris talks.

Hopes are high that this round of climate talks will, for once, yield tangible results. Indeed, since the last event, held in Copenhagen in 2009, costs have plummeted, while technological progress has come on in leaps and bounds. The share of renewables over the past few years has increased dramatically, and countries, governments, businesses and individuals are placing increasing importance on clean energy.

The news coming out of Paris supports this movement. See below for pv magazine’s coverage of the event:

As reported earlier this week, the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) is to invest $1 billion over the next ten years in the development and deployment of innovative low emissions technologies. Funds unlikely to find their way...

BNEF calculates that 57 GW of solar PV was installed last year, marking an increase of around 30% on 2014. Latest figures also show that, despite factors which could have impeded growth, clean energy financing reached US$329.3...

With an international agreement in Paris on emissions reductions inspiring ambitious renewable energy goals, an extension of the U.S. Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and record low prices for installed PV, 2015 was a positive year...

Famous musician and popstar Akon is figurehead and founder of the Akon Lighting Africa initiative, which has provided affordable solar power to more than one million Africans. Akon's goal, with the help of his business partners...

The U.K. Government has set the new solar PV tariffs. Representing a partial victory, cuts will not be severe as anticipated – 64% instead of 87% for residential – however, fears are nearly 19,000 jobs could still be lost....

The fossil fuel industry is facing a US$33 trillion hit to its expected revenues over the next 20 years, following the dramatic and unexpected result of the Paris climate change conference last weekend. RenewEconomy reports.

Africa has been well and truly in the spotlight at this round of climate talks. Identifying over 11,000 GW of renewables potential, it has called for an annual energy investment of US$55 billion, annual climate financing of $11...

The French Government has announced the winners of its 800 MW CR3 tender, for projects larger than 250 kW. Tariffs for the winning projects have fallen between 15% and 23% on the previous tender, to an average of €0.082/kWh...

Senior executives from global internet giants Google and Facebook say that renewable energy is now a valid economic alternative, and more companies could and should be following their path to 100 per cent renewable energy.

There is considerable concern in Paris – and elsewhere – about whether the deal negotiated at the UN climate change conference will be strong enough to drive the global decarbonization effort that everyone recognizes is needed.

According to a new study, removing trade barriers associated with the import of solar PV products into the European Union will positively benefit the European jobs market. Between 2008 and 2014, both the number of jobs created...

Africa has pledged its support for renewables in Paris this week by announcing the launch of the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI). The goal is to achieve universal access to energy on the continent. 10 GW of new and...

Kingfisher, owner of companies including B&Q and Screwfix, has announced a £50 million (around US$75 million) investment in renewables, the majority of which will be channeled into solar energy. The move is part of the company’s...

Group founder and various management executives of the Taiwanese power management company are in Paris to actively support the goals of the conference and showcase Delta's efforts in renewables, green buildings and energy...

Day three of the UN Climate Change Summit in Paris continues to draw the opinions of some of the world's foremost climate advocates, with naturalist Sir David Attenborough urging greater investment in the sun.

In addition to the world’s leading development banks agreeing to work together to increase climate investment, the last two days have seen the RE100 initiative welcoming a number of new participants looking to commit to 100%...

At the unveiling of the International Solar Alliance on the first eve of COP21, Indian Prime Minister Modi said India will see 12 GW of new solar capacity installed in 2016. He added that the alliance is a "sunrise of new hope"...

Under two initiatives aiming to work in tandem, an international coalition of billionaires, including Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Alibaba’s Jack Ma, and African Rainbow Minerals’ Patrice Motsepe have pledged to channel their cash...

Funds issued as part of the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy to be issued ahead of the UN Climate Change talks in Paris as part of wider investment in low carbon economy.

The Italian group remains active in South Africa, where it has developed more than 30 renewable energy projects. The company is strengthening ties with the country's government, which is eager to expand the use of clean energy.

Growing opportunities around the world are attracting new and established O&M operators as global PV forecasts rise. In Tawian, the world's second largest solar PV manufacturing industry takes center stage.

The International Energy Agency anticipates that renewable energy will make up the majority of new electricity generating capacity over the next five years, with solar PV being the second largest generation technology.